It’s time to think of men too!

Hashtag #AtulSubhash created a stir, rather it hit like a strong trending wave on X (formerly Twitter). And, ever since, the cases of domestic violence and allegedly false allegations against men (in this case husbands) in domestic feuds that have knocked the doors of the courts for justice, are tumbling out of the doors in bountiful.

As many are aware, Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old techie working in one of the IT companies in Bengaluru, committed suicide in a dramatic style, fit for an on-the-edge Bollywood movie script. Allegedly fed up of the harassment of his estranged wife and in-laws who allegedly harassed him for alimony to the tune of Rs. Three crore and humiliated him during court proceedings, he decided to end his life. But, not before he scripted a 24-page note in his handwriting and recorded an 80-minute video, explaining the reason for taking this extreme step.

Shattered by the prejudice and toxicity of the lawyers in the court, Atul had written in his note that, “If I win from the system, devote my mortal remains in Ganga otherwise in a gutter outside the court…” While the court will give its verdict and the police will decide the course of action, the fact is that women who so far were the aggrieved lot, have to now share space with men who are facing the same discrimination and treatment.

A Twitter handle by the name of Eagle Eye tweeted about all that was said at the Delhi protests on Atul’s suicide: “Around 70 crore men pay tax in India, not even one welfare scheme for men is funded by our own taxes. Strike while the iron is hot. Let’s stand against pseudo-feminists and the corrupt justice system. Indian women are scared of losing their courtroom privileges. They fear their false cases will now need evidence and accountability. They're terrified of missing out on massive alimony payouts.

The Karnataka Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, told the PTI news agency that, “…it has opened up a new discussion throughout the country. Because we always talked about women's rights. Now suddenly, this particular case has exposed men's rights, how weak the men's rights system is working. It's a debate throughout the country and let's see where it will end.”

However, in the same vein, women are also equally facing the same kinds of harassment during divorce proceedings for far too long as many of them becoming victims of injustice, slander, and suffering physical and mental agony.

So, what does it say of our society where youngsters, whichever gender, have to bear the wrath of marital discord? Unarguably, there should be fast track justice for both men and women who are undergoing such personal trauma.

For that, most lawyers of legal fraternity who takes advantage of this critical situation and deliberately or otherwise, keep such cases pending while their commercial fees keep spiking up, should be admonished and made to fall in line.

As it is rightly said, “Divorce lawyers stoke anger and fear in their clients, knowing that as long as the conflicts remain unresolved, the revenue stream will keep flowing” – Craig Ferguson, in his book "American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot".

This attitude of lawyers must STOP!